Big Step


"Wow, Thea this is place is so nice." AJ said, walking into her daughter's new house.

"Right?" Thea smiled, standing in the kitchen, tons of boxes lying around yet to be unpacked, "Just don't trip up over any of the boxes. There's tons everywhere." She shook her head.

"It's a lot bigger inside than I thought." AJ admitted, "How's the unpacking coming along?"

"I feel like I unpack one box and then… five million other ones appear around me." Thea shook her head, "And then James and Sofia keep moving some and I'm all over the place trying to find things."

"The joys of moving into a new place." AJ nodded, "Where's Dominic?"

"He's at work." Thea said, "Honestly, sometimes it's better if he just… gets out my way for a little while." She scoffed, "He kinda just stands around and gets in my way." She said as AJ chuckled.

"Or you just like to take control of things." AJ suggested.

"Well obviously." Thea nodded, already knowing that, "You want a coffee? I can try and find the pot somewhere." She looked around at all the boxes.

"No, it's ok." AJ smiled, "Where's Sofia?" She asked.

"Oh, she's out in the garden playing with her dolls." Thea said as AJ looked out the window, smiling on as she saw Sofia sitting on the grass playing.

"Looks like she's having a tea party." AJ smiled.

"Yeah, she hosts a lot of them." Thea nodded, "What are you doing coming here anyway?"

"Well your dad is back at work. Cassie is at work too. Jude is at her appointment. I was lonely." AJ shrugged.

"Jude's appointment is today?" Thea asked.

"Yeah, this afternoon." AJ nodded, "Me and your dad stopped by last night to see her."

"How is she?" Thea asked, leaning against the counter and folding her arms.

"She's a little better. The medication is making her really sleepy." She said, "But she was talking to us for a little while, seemed a lot brighter than she has been." She nodded.

"It must be so horrible." Thea shook her head, "I hope her appointment goes ok, and she opens up about how she's feeling." She said as AJ nodded.

"Yeah, me too." AJ said.

"She has been texting me a lot more. When she's feeling up to it I'll take her out for the day. Go shopping or something. Or for coffee. She needs to be out and about as much as possible. It really does help." Thea said as AJ nodded.

"I'm sure when she's ready she'll let you know." AJ said, "I'm just glad that she's… she's going to the appointment and she's acknowledging it now. I mean… that night me and your father went to the house, when she locked herself in the bathroom, it was like she had this mask on. Like she wasn't even in the room. It scared me." She shook her head.

"It's crazy how giving birth can affect you in so many different ways." Thea shook her head.

"I think she's having flashbacks to… what happened to her, too. Going to the doctors, and therapy… I think it's bringing it all back for her. Reminding her of that time." AJ said, "My heart aches for her, it really does." AJ shook her head.

"She'll get better." Thea assured her confidently, "She's a badass, and she's gotten through it all before."

"Yeah, I know." AJ nodded.

"How's dad? Has he been talking about Daniel or is he doing that annoying thing he always does and… pretends it's not there?" Thea asked.

"He's been thinking about it. Him and Dean." AJ assured her, "It's a difficult one. I don't think this man is necessarily a bad person. But… your dad and Dean are not spring chickens anymore. It's not like they're even in their thirties. It's a lot of time that's gone by and I don't know if they see any benefit from a relationship with him. I don't know if they even want one." AJ shrugged, "It's entirely their choice and I'm letting them figure it out together."

"Really? They're both pretty dumb, though." Thea said as AJ laughed a little.

"Thea, that's your father." AJ scoffed.

"Yeah and he's not the greatest at making choices and decisions." Thea said.

"This is entirely up to him and Dean. I'm leaving it up to them." AJ declared, "It's their father." She said. She truly believed it wasn't anything to do with her. This was her husband's decision entirely.

"Speaking of fathers." Thea looked across at her, "How's that whole thing going on?" She asked.

"Well Cassie says it's pretty much a bust case. It was straight up self-defence for your dad. Not just for himself but for you girls too." AJ said.

"Why did you never tell dad?" Thea asked, "You knew all that time that your parents were behind more than you thought. Why didn't you just tell dad about it?"

"It just… didn't seem to matter. He still went to prison. We still had to deal with that. I was so mad when I first found out. I already knew that they were to blame for so much already, but… for more to come out like that. I guess it was then I really stopped seeing them as my parents. They were just people to me. Strangers even." AJ said, "And when your dad got out of prison there was more to worry about than them. There was you girls and your relationships with him. And then when things got good… I just didn't wanna ruin it with anything." She shrugged.

"Yeah, well I can understand that." Thea nodded, "Why after all this time did he still have such an issue with dad?"

"My guess is as good as yours. I think he was losing it, mentally." AJ said, "My parents weren't good people when I was growing up. And I'm not talking just drug dealing and whatever… there's other stuff that I wouldn't even get into with you and your sisters." AJ said, "I guess that kinda life can eat away at your brain without you noticing. I think he was… I think he was jealous."

"Jealous of what?" Thea shook her head.

"Of me, of your father, of us… managing to get away from all of that shit and live a normal life." AJ said.

"Maybe." Thea nodded, "Do you think your mom has gone back to Puerto Rico?"

"Probably. She always hated it here." AJ nodded.

"Well I'm sorry you had really shitty parents. I really can't relate." Thea shrugged as AJ smiled.

"Hey, you're turning into a little kiss ass in your old age. I like it." AJ smiled as Thea laughed a little, shaking her head.


"I'll pick you up when you're done, ok?" Sean nodded, sitting behind the wheel in the car, looking on at Jude sitting beside him as she looked on at the doctor's office.

"You're not gonna let me… not go, are you?" Jude asked him.

"Afraid not." Sean shook his head, "Believe me, I can imagine how stressful this is but… you know once you're there and you're comfortable, it'll really start to help." Sean said as Jude nodded to herself.

"What are you gonna do whilst I'm there?" She asked curiously.

"I'm not sure. Drive around. I think she likes the car actually." Sean said as Jude turned to look at the back of the car where Mirren was asleep in her carrier, so peacefully still, such an angel, "Maybe stop in and get a coffee somewhere or something." He shrugged as Jude nodded to him.

"Ok." Jude said, "Ok." She whispered to herself.

"I know you can do this." Sean nodded, placing his hand on her thigh as she looked at him, "And I know how much it's took you just to get yourself here already, and I'm so proud of you." He made clear as she smiled softly.

"I don't know how you put up with me sometimes." Jude shook her head.

"It's not… putting up with you, Jude. I love you, and I care about you. I want you to get better. You deserve to feel better than this, and you can…. You will." He nodded positively as she smiled softly, taking a hold of his hand. She'd been through so much with him, and he'd always stuck by her side, for that she was truly thankful. She knew he was going to be her person forever.

"I love you." Jude nodded, leaning over and kissing him as he kissed back.

"Ok, go." Sean nodded, pulling back from the kiss and cupping her cheek, "You don't wanna be late." He said as she nodded.

"I'll see you in an hour." Jude nodded, getting out of the car and heading into the office.

It wasn't so much a doctor's office as it was a therapy clinic. The corridors were painted fresh, decorated accordingly, relaxing music playing in the background and a modern check-in desk as soon as she walked in. It brought her back to the therapy she sought when she had been attacked. That was the difficult part in all of this.

She checked in at the desk and sat in the waiting area before she was called on who she assumed was the therapist she was seeing.

"Hi, Jude." The middle aged woman smiled pleasantly, leading her into the office, "I'm Doctor Tracy Wilson." She said, shaking Jude's hand.

"Nice to meet you." Jude nodded.

"Take a seat, get comfy." Tracy smiled, sitting down on the sofa like chair as Jude sat down across from her, "It's been crazy in here today. Fire alarm has went off twice." She shook her head as Jude smiled a little.

"Hopefully no fires?" Jude smiled as Tracy laughed a little.

"The day is still young." Tracy said as Jude smiled, "Is the afternoon appointment ok for you?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's fine." Jude nodded, watching as she grabbed her notebook.

"Because if it's not I can fit you in in the morning or later on at night." Tracy said, "Just let me know."

"No, this… this is fine." Jude assured her as Tracy smiled.

"Is it good weather out there today? Barely had a chance to look outside." She said.

"It's a little cold but it's dry, I guess." Jude nodded.

"We're not far away from some sunshine, hopefully." Tracy said, filling in some information on her notebook.

"Yeah, I think everyone is desperate for Summer." Jude said.

"Mhm." Tracy smiled, "Ok, so… you were diagnosed with postpartum depression." She looked at the files from Jude's doctor.

"Yeah." Jude nodded.

"How long ago did you give birth?" Tracy asked.

"Almost two weeks now." Jude said.

"Baby girl or boy?" Tracy asked.

"Girl." Jude nodded, "Mirren."

"Oh, how sweet." Tracy smiled, "How would you say things are going since she got here?" She asked as Jude looked across at her. She'd almost forgotten how therapy worked. She was so caught up in the normal chatter, that she had forgot the deep thoughtful questions were coming.

"Uh… not great." Jude nodded.

"How have you been feeling?" Tracy asked her as Jude looked across at her. She figured strength had gotten her in this seat and strength would get her through to the other side. Even if she did cry her way through it.


AJ had gotten home from Thea's later on and decided to take a nap on the couch. Punk and Cassie were still at work which meant the house was quiet. She felt her head aching and decided to lay it down on the couch for a couple of hours.

She was doing her best to take it easy but it was difficult when she was naturally someone who couldn't sit still. However, after the scare she'd had, she didn't take her health for granted, that was for sure.

She dozed off on the couch for an hour before getting woken up from her sleep with a knock at the door. She took a few minutes to get off the couch, rubbing her tired eyes and fixing her hair as she walked out of the living room.

She opened up the front door, looking on at Sam standing across from her.

"Well, at least you're alive." AJ looked across at her.

"Is Phil home?" Sam asked her.

"He's at work." AJ said, watching as she walked into the house anyway, "I really don't think he wants to talk to you, though."

"Then maybe I'll just talk to you." Sam said, walking on through to the kitchen as AJ rolled her eyes, following after her.

"I was actually enjoying a peaceful nap." AJ said.

"What are you? Three?" Sam shook her head.

"No, just someone with a brain injury." AJ said as Sam looked across at her, "You know what I… I don't think I want you in here after what you did the last time you were here."

"Well… Phil and Dean wanted the truth. What did you expect me to do?" Sam shrugged as AJ looked across at her.

"Yeah, you know what… maybe we do need to talk about all of this." AJ nodded, looking across at her. She hadn't really gotten to talk to Sam. Not even after she woke up from the coma. And she sure as hell had some questions.